Rabat-Vittoriosa 1-2
Rabat: P. Velimirovic, S. Gauci, D. Azzopardi, Z. Tanti, I. Carapic, J. Caruana, D. Carrillo Pendas, S. Opraiescu (P. Borg), R. Micallef (A. Azzopardi), M. Licari (C. Vella), J. Bajada.
Vittoriosa S.: M. Muscat, C. Spiteri, C. Sammut (L. Vella Critien), S. Arab, M. Pereira, O. Guerrero, O. Sidibe, S. Arab Eddin (M. Camilleri), F. Mella Arriagada (M. Barbara), C. Brincat, M. Buttigieg.
Referee: P. Farrugia.
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, R. Vella.
4th official: P. Caruana.
Scorers: R. Micallef pen, M. Pereira 2,
Yellow cards: C. Brincat, S. Opraiescu, SA Eddin, D. Carrillo Pendas, M. Licari,
Red cards:
Player of the match: M. Pereira.
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Pereira, 2. O. Guerrero, 3. P. Velimirovic.
Henry Brincat
Vittoriosa Stars kept their hopes of avoiding relegation alive when they narrowly beat Rabat Ajax 2-1 yesterday.
These were a precious three points for the Stars, which lifted them to the 21-point mark along with Floriana, just before the latter played against Tarxien at the same venue.
In fact, the Stars needed nothing less than the three points. The already relegated Rabat have no further interest in the proceedings.
The first half was very entertaining with Rabat probably playing one of their best matches even if they finished in arrears after the first 45 minutes.
The Stars were shocked when Rabat took an early lead and then suffered some anxious moments before eventually they took command to first equalise and then take the lead through two goals from Marcelo Pereira.
In the second half, Vittoriosa remained in command but Rabat moved forward with purpose whenever they decided to go upfield. And at the back, they closed all the gaps never allowing their opponents to have a serious pot at goal.
Vittoriosa went straight on attack and in the second minute, Guerrero went close with a shot that just missed the target.
It was Rabat who broke the ice on the 6th minute when Clive Brincat pulled down Ryan Micallef in the area. Referee Farrugia showed no hesitation in pointing to the dreaded spot from where the same Micallef sent Muscat the wrong way to put Rabat 1-0 ahead.
In the 11th minute, the same Micallef was again a protagonist as he sped away on the right flank and beat an opponent only to see his effort going wide.
Vittoriosa almost suffered a second goal on the 17th minute when Licari received a good ball in the Stars area, but his final effort was booted out by Muscat.
In the 22nd minute, Guerrero had a good chance to equalise for the Stars but his shot was blocked in extremis by Ivan Carapic.
Two minutes later, following a Stars freekick, Joseph Caruana cleared badly, but Pereira lifted his semi rovesciata over the bar.
In the 30th minute, from a Guerrero freekick, Clive Brincat saw his header hitting the upright.
The Stars equalised two minutes later when Sidibe set Marcelo Pereira on the right. The latter advanced and beat Velimirovic from an acute angle.
Vittoriosa took the lead two minutes from the end of the first half when Pereira received the ball in the area, went round a defender and beat Velimirovic with a hard shot.
And in the 44th minute, it was Siraj Arab Eddin who went very close with a low shot after a fine pass from Guerrero. Soon after it was the Rabat goalie who avoided a third goal as he blocked a close range effort from Guerrero.
The second half had a very quiet start but in the 64th minute, Muscat was a protagonist as he was forced into a spectacular save, tipping to corner a dangerous inswinger from Jonathan Bajada.
Vittoriosa dictated play from midfield, but Rabat were well organised at the back and never allowed the Stars to test Velimirovic seriously.
On one occasion, an Arriagada shot went wide. And on the 86th minute, from a Guerrero corner, it was substitute Michael Camilleri who headed against the crossbar although the referee had whistled for a freekick.
Two minutes from the end, Rabat had a chance to equalise, but Carrillo Pendas lifted a freekick well over the bar.